USS B-3 (SS-12)

USS "B-3" (SS-12) was a "B"-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down by Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts, under a subcontract from Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut, as "Tarantula", making her the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the tarantula. She was launched on 30 March 1907 sponsored by Mrs. George S. Radford, wife of Naval Constructor Radford, and commissioned on 3 December 1907 with Lieutenant J. F. Daniels in command. She reported to the Atlantic Fleet.

"Tarantula" operated along the Atlantic coast with the First and Second Submarine Flotillas on training and experimental exercises until going into reserve at Charleston Navy Yard on 6 November 1909. She was recommissioned 15 April 1910 and served with the Atlantic Torpedo Fleet until assigned to the Reserve Torpedo Group, Charleston Navy Yard 9 May 1911 and placed out of commission 4 December 1912. On 17 November 1911 "Tarantula" was renamed "B-3". On 6 December 1912, "B-3" was towed to Norfolk, Virginia, and loaded on board USS|Ajax|AC-15|3 for transfer to the Asiatic Station. Arriving at Cavite, Philippine Islands, on 30 April 1913, "B-3" was launched from "Ajax" 12 May. She was recommissioned 2 September 1913 and remained in the Philippines where she served with Submarine Division 4, Torpedo Flotilla, Asiatic Fleet. Decommissioned at Cavite 25 July 1921, "B-3" was subsequently used as a target.

See USS|Tarantula for other ships of the same name.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b1/b-3.htm history.navy.mil: USS "B-3"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08012.htm navsource.org: USS "Tarantula"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/submar/ss12.htm hazegray.org: USS "Tarantula"]